Speech #1020067160

Mr. Speaker. today I am Introducing a bill to ensure that Federal as well as State courts can continue their traditional roles In naturalizing new American citizens. My legislation reinstates the longstanding procedure under which Immigrants. eligible for naturalization as citizens of the United States. participate in formal naturalization ceremonies held In courtrooms and presided over by Federal or State judges. At the same time. my bill will ensure that naturalization Is accomplished In a timely and expeditious manner. Effective October 1. 1991. the 1990 Immigration Act confers exclusive naturalization authority on the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS] even though it allows an applicant to take the oath of allegiance from a judge. Under my proposal. the authority to naturalize and administer oaths would be held by the courts for a 45day period beginning when the INS has completed and approved an applicants paperwork. A court wishing to continue its role In the naturalization process would be required to provide to the applicant and to the INS a schedule of dateswithin that 45day period--on which the court will conduct naturalizations. Failure to submit or comply with such a timetable will result in the automatic waiver of the courts jurisdiction. This allows the prospective citizen to participate in an administrative naturalization ceremony conducted by and before an INS officer. My proposal continues the courts traditional and historical role in naturalizations. while allowing courts the flexibility to decline jurisdiction temporarily when their dockets cannot accommodate the timely scheduling of naturalizations. The Federal courts strongly support the enactment of this legislation to restore their role in the naturalization process. On May 15 Federal district judges Robert Manley Parker. chief judge of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas and Ronald S.W.